Yoga for health, mind, and charity

By Glynnis Jones
WEST MILFORD — 'Soul Jahs of Yoga - Benefit for Elaine Mazurek' took place last month at the Andrea Powers Studio, providing a place for those in the West Milford area to exercise and de-stress for a great cause. In one of several campaigns to help a mother who has battled breast cancer and is now undergoing treatments for brain cancer, the studio put out a call to action asking, "Need to make a deposit into your karma account?"

Andrea and Johnny Powers grew up with Mazurek and her husband, Ronnie, who reside in Midland Park.

"We are doing what we do best to help. But it goes beyond that because they are like family," said Johnny Powers

West Milford residents answered the call and filled the special yoga sessions of low-impact exercise for a cause with a high impact. For $20, the assortment of mini classes included Vinyasa, which translated means "moving while breathing," Piloxing- a mix of Pilates and boxing, aerial yoga and stretching from specially installed soft, cloth "hammocks" that hung from the ceiling, and a drum circle group to close out the day.

The event raised over $1,100 to help Mazurek and her family through this tough time.

"Just helping causes and people get well mentally and physically is why we are in business," said Andrea Powers.

The participants who attended the event ranged from novice to experienced and their reasons were also varied.

Rebecca Christopher, who had never really practiced yoga before coming to the studio for the fund raiser, walked out of the session with a smile on her face. "I really enjoyed it!" she said, adding it was awesome that the studio was doing the benefit and wanted to support the cause. While nervous coming in to her first class, she left feeling uplifted and glad she went.

For Alison Carbone and new member to the studio, Alice Olszewski, yoga is part of their routine and they sign up regularly for classes, but, Julia Gaffney came specifically to support the benefit.

Elisabeth Ladwig also came to donate for the cause. While she didn't know the details of Mazurek's plight, she knew that if the studio was holding a fund raiser it must be much needed. She has been a member of the studio for three years and finds she still learns something new.

In addition to the workouts, there were gifts that were raffled off at the end of the day and massages offered at $1 per minute. Lucky winners received a full year membership to the studio, a brand new spin bike, tattoos, guitar lessons, massage and reflexology sessions, and a vast array of skin care and makeup gifts and a haircut.

The Powers first opened their studio in 2007 and then relocated to their current location on Union Valley Road in West Milford three years ago. The studio offers services including skin care, massages, energy work or 'Reiki,' lifestyle coaching, yoga therapy and more.

For more information, go to www.andreapowers.com.

For more photos from the event, go to westmilfordmessenger.com.